Binge Watching Finally Pays Off

I’ve been binge watching Parks and Recreation lately. I’m not usually one for the standard sitcom, but I really like Amy Poehler. And apparently I really like the guy who plays Ron Swanson. And I think I’m developing a crush on Aubrey Plaza. Parks and Rec is the perfect show for when my brain is fried after a crazy day at work. It’s funny, I like the characters, it’s got a long running story arc, characters change and grow. Amy Poehler’s Leslie Knope is so cheerful and positive, that if I knew her in real life I’d probably want to punch her. But on TV, I want to root for her. I want things to go well for her. Also, “Knope” is the best sitcom name, ever.

If you don’t know this show, it’s a mockumentary of a Parks and Rec department in a small Indiana town. Small town politics, office comedy, romantic comedy, weird bosses, awkward relationships, crazy ex-wives, semi-homeless guys, and lots of genius writing. there are very few bad episodes of this show.

I’ve been watching a few episodes here and there for maybe 6 months, and I’m currently most of the way into season three. A while back, while channel surfing at a hotel, I got a season 6 episode, and found out that Leslie and Ben become a couple. So ever since Ben of the awesome hair showed up somewhere near the end of season two, I’ve been waiting for those two to start dating. But, of course they can’t, because Ben’s boss Chris (Rob Lowe, in what is literally, my favorite part he’s played, ever) forbids people who work for each other to date. And technically, Leslie works for Ben, since he oversees the budget of her dept. But, oh my god, the sexual tension between those two. It’s as unbearable as it is adorkable. They obviously like each other, but neither of them want to break any rules, and they both don’t seem to realize that the other one likes them too (wow,that was a grammar fail!). Knowing that they get together later makes all this waiting for them to hook up even harder to bear! I read somewhere that ladies like plot-heavy and fore-play heavy porn, and dudes prefer porn that gets right to the sex. Whatever network originally ran this show, did they realize the sexual tension between Ben and Leslie was basically porn for women? Because it is.

That is some epic David Tennant 10th Doctor hair.

Last night I watched the episode when they finally kissed. They are having a regular conversation about work stuff, and he puts his hand on her jaw and pulls her close and kisses her. and she kisses back.

I cheered out loud. I shouted down the hall to my husband “Ben and Leslie finally kissed!!” Because that kiss? Everything about it was perfect.

They each had heard from a friend that the other person liked them. It was so adorably high school. In fact, Leslie’s best friend Ann even tells Ben to just ask Leslie to the prom already.

Ben knew Leslie wouldn’t ever make the first move. He knew if this was ever going to happen, he was going to have to make it happen, right now. He knew there could be dire consequences. But he kisses her anyway. and she kisses him back. because of Chris’s rule, they could both be fired. And she still kisses him back.

I wanted to watch the episode again, and for the second time through, I made my husband watch it with me. He laughed at all the jokes, and for the millionth time this week I fell in love with my husband’s laugh. We get to the end of the episode, and the famous kiss.

All googly eyed, I looked at my husband and said “wasn’t that the most romantic thing ever?”

He thinks about it for a moment or two, and responds with “more romantic than the end of Mulan?”

“Nothing is more romantic than the end of Mulan”.

because all that “we can’t be together, but we really want to be together, and I won’t admit that I want to be with you” is 100% porn for women.

So what should I do for the rest of the evening? Watch Mulan for the billionth time (and cry all the way through it, because omg, that scene with her Dad at the end), or do I force my poor suffering husband to watch more Parks and Rec with me, because I want to hear his magical, perfect, laugh?

FTC Stuff

some of the books reviewed here were free ARCs supplied by publishers/authors/other groups. Some of the books here I got from the library. the rest I *gasp!* actually paid for. I'll do my best to let you know what's what.